Injection moldable amide-imide copolymers

ABSTRACT

Injection moldable copolymers are prepared from fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines and aromatic tricarboxylic anhydride compounds, aromatic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures of aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides and aromatic dicarboxylic acids. These copolymers are useful for the preparation of injection molded articles and fibers.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 112,653, filed Jan. 16, 1980, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,528.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to the preparation of random linear injection moldable amide-imide copolymers which process comprises reacting fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines with aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides, aromatic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures of aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides and aromatic dicarboxylic acids and to novel polytrimellitic amide-imide copolymers and copolyamides and to molded objects and fibers prepared from these copolymers and copolyamides.

2. Background

Amide-imide and polyamide polymers and copolymers are a relatively new class of organic compounds known for their solubility in nitrogen containing solvents when in the polyamic acid form. The major application of these amide-imides has been as wire enamels and film formers. This is illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,852,106 (1974), 3,817,942 (1974), 3,661,832 (1972), 3,454,890 (1970) and 3,347,942 (1967). British Specification No. 570,858 (1945) discloses the general state of the art.

Polyimide and polyamide-imide polymers have also been found useful for molding applications as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,016,140 (1977), 3,654,227 (1972) and 3,573,260 (1971).

The general object of this invention is to provide injection moldable amorphous linear amide-imide copolymers and polyamides. A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel process for the manufacture of injection moldable amide-imide and amide copolymers and copolyamides by reacting fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines with aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, or mixtures of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides. Another object is to provide novel polyamide-imide or polyamide polymers or copolymers suitable for use as an engineering plastic particularly for and in injection molding. Other objects appear hereinafter.

We have discovered a novel melt condensation process in which fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines are reacted with aromatic tricarboxylic anhydrides, aromatic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures of aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides with aromatic dicarboxylic acids to yield engineering plastics suitable for injection molding which feature very high tensile strength and heat distortion temperatures. Our novel process for the preparation of random linear injection moldable amide-imide and amide copolymers and copolyamides comprises reacting fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines with aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides, aromatic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures of aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides with aromatic dicarboxylic acids in a molar ratio of about 9:1 to about 1:9 at a temperature of about 150° to 750° F.

In the prior art, melt reaction of aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydride compounds with aromatic diamines have produced products which are not suitable for injection molding application. The reason for this is not known, but it is specified that various side reactions occur. It has now been discovered that when fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines are reacted, injection molding grade polyamide-imide copolymers are produced. In our process we usually acylate more than half of the diamines utilized in the reaction. The preferred acylation is about 70 to 100 percent of the total amine functionality.

Evidence for linearity for our novel copolymer is demonstrated by the solubility of the polymer. Polymers produced from aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydride compounds such as trimellitic acid anhydride and aromatic diamines via various melt polymerization methods generally show little or no solubility for products having inherent viscosity in excess of 0.5. The copolymer produced according to the novel process utilizing partially or fully acylated diamines is essentially soluble after curing with inherent viscosities in the range of 0.6 to 3.0. For the purpose of this invention, inherent viscosity is measured at 25° C. and 0.5% w/v in 100% sulfuric acid or N-methylpyrrolidone.

The novel injection moldable amorphous random linear polyamide-imide copolymers of this invention can comprise units of: ##STR1## R comprises R₁ and R₂ where R₁ and R₂ are divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or two divalent hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms joined directly or by stable linkages selected from the group consisting of --O--, --SO--, methylene, --CO--, --SO₂ --, and --S-- radicals and wherein said R₁ and R₂ containing units run from about 10 mole percent R₁ containing unit and about 90 mole percent R₂ containing unit to about 90 mole percent R₁ containing unit and about 10 mole percent R₂ containing unit.

The novel injection moldable random linear copolymer may comprise structural Units A and B and may also include 10% to 100% of Unit C of the following formula: ##STR2## wherein X is a divalent aromatic radical usually a divalent benzene radical and R₃ comprises both R₁ and R₂ as defined above or is equal to R₁. Furthermore, if structure C is present R of structural Units A and B, if present, can be equal to R₁ or comprise both R₁ and R₂ as set forth above.

In the foregoing structural units Z is a trivalent aromatic radical. Z may be a trivalent radical of benzene, naphthalene, biphenyl, diphenyl ether, diphenyl sulfide, diphenyl sulfone, ditolyl ether, and the like.

Useful aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides which contribute the trivalent radical moiety of Z include those compounds containing at least one pair of carboxyl groups in the ortho position with respect to each other or otherwise situated in a fashion which permits the formation of an anhydride structure, one other carboxyl group and from 9 to 21 carbon atoms. Within these limits, these compounds may contain one or more benzenoid rings such as, for instance, trimellitic anhydride and its isomers and multi-ring compounds such as the 1,8-anhydride of 1,3,8-tricarboxylnaphthalene. Usually these compounds contain up to three benzenoid rings.

The aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydride used in the novel process to form the polyamide-imide polymers of this invention is of the formula: ##STR3## where Z is a trivalent aromatic radical defined as set forth hereinabove. The following aromatic tricarboxylic anhydrides are preferred: trimellitic acid anhydride; 2,3,6-naphthalene tricarboxylic anhydride; 1,5,6-naphthalene tricarboxylic anhydride, and the like; 2,6-dichloronaphthalene-4,5,7-tricarboxylic anhydride, and the like. One of the preferred aromatic tricarboxylic anhydrides is trimellitic anhydride since this compound is readily available and forms polymers having excellent physical properties of tensile strength and elongation and is resistant to high temperatures.

Suitable fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines useful in applicant's process include para- and meta-phenylenediamine, para- and meta-xylenediamine, para-toluenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine, 2,6-toluenediamine, 3,5-toluenediamine, oxybis(aniline), thiobis(aniline), sulfonylbis(aniline), diaminobenzophenone, methylenebis(aniline), benzidine, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, oxybis(2-methylaniline), thiobis(2-methylaniline), and the like. Examples of other useful aromatic primary diamines are the following: 2,2'-naphthalene diamine, 2,4'-naphthalene diamine, 2,2'-biphenylene diamine, 3,3'-biphenylene diamine, 4,4'-biphenylene diamine, and the like; 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine, ethylene dianiline (4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ethane), and the like; ketodianiline, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyl sulfide, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 3,3'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, hexafluoroisopropylidene-bis(4-phenyl amine), 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane, 2,6-diaminopyridine, bis-(4-aminophenyl)diethyl silane, bis(4-aminophenyl)ethyl phosphine oxide, bis(4-aminophenyl)-N-phenylamine, bis(4-aminophenyl)-N-methylamine, 3,3'-dimethyl-4,4'-diaminobiphenyl, para-bis(2-methyl-4-aminophenyl)benzene, 3,3'-diaminoadamantane.

Useful aromatic dicarboxylic acids include isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid. In applicant's process further preparation of injection moldable amide-imide and amide copolymers process can be conducted without utilizing a solvent or fluidizing agent though it is preferred to use agents such as N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylacetamide, or acetic acid for the initial mixing of reactants. In general, since these polymers are linear, they may be easily cured in the melt using a twin screw extruder as the finishing reactor instead of a solid state polymerization. However, in some instances, it may be helpful to solid state polymerize the copolymers. The term "solid state polymerization" refers to chain extension of polymer molecules under conditions where the polymer particles contain their solid form and do not become a fluid mass.

The solid state polymerizing can be carried out below the melting point of the copolymer and can be conducted in several ways. However, all the techniques require heating the ground or pelletized copolymer below the copolymer melting point, generally of about 400° to 600° F. while either sparging with an inert gas such as nitrogen or operating under vacuum.

Injection molding of the novel copolymer is accomplished by injecting the copolymer into a mold maintained at a temperature of about 250°-500° F. In this process a 0.1-2.0 minutes cycle is used with a barrel temperature of about 500° F. to 700° F. The injection molding conditions are given in Table I.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Mold Temperature   250-500° F.                                          Injection Pressure 2,000-40,000 psi and held                                                      for 0.5-20 seconds                                          Back Pressure      0-400 psi                                                   Cycle Time         6-120 seconds                                               Extruder:                                                                      Nozzle Temperature 500° F. to 700° F.                            Barrel Temperature 500° F. to 700° F.                            Screw:                                                                         10-200 revolutions/minute                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The mechanical properties of the polymers prepared in the Examples are given in Tables II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII.

In applicant's process the acylated aromatic diamines need not be isolated or purified prior to their further reaction with the tricarboxylic acid anhydride compound or mixture of the tricarboxylic acid anhydride with dicarboxylic acid or with a mixture of isophthalic and terephthalic acid or just with isophthalic or terephthalic acid. Therefore, one can react one to two moles of acetic anhydride or acid or propionic anhydride or acid or any other C₂ through C₈ containing aliphatic acid or C₄ through C₁₆ containing aliphatic anhydride and one mole of the appropriate aromatic diamine or diamine mixture and use the resulting acylated diamine solution in acetic acid or propionic acid to react with the aromatic tricarboxylic anhydride compound, or mixtures of the tricarboxylic anhydride compound with aromatic dicarboxylic acid, or dicarboxylic acids. It should be noted that formic anhydride or acids cannot be used to acylate the diamines in this process.

In most cases, linear high molecular weight aromatic polyamide-imide or polyamide polymers or copolymers result after melt and/or solid state polymerization. Acylating agents include acetic anhydride, acid or propionic acid or anhydride, etc., or any aliphatic acid or anhydride containing from 2 to 8 carbon atoms per acid, preferably 2 to 4 carbon atoms per acid or 4 to 16 carbon atoms per anhydride, preferably 4 to 8 carbon atoms. Formic acid cannot be used as an acylating agent in this process.

The following examples illustrate the preferred embodiments of this invention. It will be understood that these examples are for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to be wholly definitive with respect to the conditions or scope of the invention.

The novel process can suitably be conducted as a continuous process, which process comprises reacting fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines with aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides, aromatic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides in a molar ratio of about 9:1 to 1:9 at a temperature of about 150° to 750° F. and wherein the molar ratio of the diamines to the anhydride or acid, or acid and anhydride mixture is 0.9:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein at least 50% of the amine functionality is acylated.

Suitably the molded polymers can also be filled from about 20 to 60 weight percent with glass fibers, glass beads, mineral fillers or mixtures thereof. The preferred polymer which can be filled is prepared from meta toluene diamine and a mixture of terephthalic and isophthalic acid. Advantageously the aforementioned molding composition may contain from about 30 to 50 weight percent of glass fiber, glass beads, mineral fillers or mixtures thereof.

EXAMPLE 1

Metaphenylenediamine (540 g) and acetic acid (900 ml) were placed in a five liter three-necked round bottom flask equipped with mechanical stirrer, pressure equalizing addition funnel and nitrogen sparge tube, and distillation head and condenser. The nitrogen sparge was set at 300 cc/min. and 765 g of acetic anhydride was added over 5 min. This was followed by the addition of 415 g of isophthalic acid and 480 g of trimellitic anhydride. The temperature of the bottom half of the spherical heating mantle surrounding the flask was set at 700° F. and the top half of the mantle was heated with a Variac set at 50. After 105 min., 1730 ml of distillate was collected and the polymer had become very viscous. The heat was turned off and the polymer was cooled under nitrogen. The inherent viscosity of the polymer 0.5% w/v in 60:40 w/w phenol:tetrachloroethane at 25° C. was 0.14 dl/g.

EXAMPLE 2

Oxybisaniline (OBA) (280 g), metaphenylenediamine (MPDA) (64.8 g), and 500 ml of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) were charged into a 3 liter 3-necked flask equipped with a metal-blade, metal shaft stirrer, pressure equalizing addition funnel with nitrogen inlet, and a distillation take off. After flushing the flask with nitrogen and keeping a slow bleed, acetic anhydride (204 g) was added over 5 min. to this stirred mixture during which time the exothermic acylation raised the temperature to 175°-200° F. Trimellitic anhydride (384 g) was added quickly to this solution. After a short induction period, the TMA dissolved and reacted as evidenced by a further rise in solution temperature to 250° F. Finally 2 g of trisnonylphenylphosphite was added to the solution. The temperature of the bottom half of the spherical heating mantle surrounding the flask was set to 600° F., while a Variac connected to the top half was set to 50. After 80 min. of heating, 730 ml of solvent, water, and acetic acid had distilled, during which time an extremely viscous polymer was formed. The polymer was soluble in 60:40 w/w phenol:tetrachloroethane (TCE), NMP, and 100% sulfuric acid. Its inherent viscosity (0.5% w/v in 60:40 w/w phenol:TCE) was 0.23. The polymer was cured under high vacuum overnight at 270° C. to give material with an inherent viscosity of 1.36 in 100% sulfuric acid or 0.80 in NMP (0.5% w/v at 25° C.). The polymer could be easily compression molded (5 min. at 700° F.) to produce specimens with a tensile strength of 6,500 psi. Annealing these parts 16 hr. at 450° F. and 100 hr. at 500° F. produced specimens (without distortion) having a tensile strength of 14,000 psi.

EXAMPLE 3

Example #2 was repeated with the exception that 396 g of methylenebisaniline was substituted for the mixture of OBA and MPDA. Polymer was produced which had an inherent viscosity of 0.23 in 60:40 w/w phenol:tetrachloroethane or 0.25 in 100% sulfuric acid. Curing the polymer 16 hr. at 270° C. under high vacuum raised the inherent viscosity to 1.43 in 100% sulfuric acid. The polymer could be compression molded at 700° F. to produce amber glass colored plaques.

EXAMPLE 4

Fully aromatic TMA:oxybisaniline:metaphenylene diamine (MPDA) (in a molar ratio of 1:0.7:0.3) polyamideimide was prepared according to the procedure set forth in Example 3 and the copolymer had an inherent viscosity of 0.35. The copolymer was then solid state polymerized raising the inherent viscosity to 0.80. The resulting copolymer was then injected on the Arburg injection molding equipment using mold temperatures of 410° F. to 440° F. and barrel temperatures of 610° F. to 640° F. Some of the molded specimens were then annealed for 48 hours at 470° F. followed by 96 hours at 500° F. The physical properties of these copolymers are listed in Table II. They had tensile strength of 25,600 to 26,100 p.s.i., elongation of 9.5% and flexural strength of 32,600 to 35,600. After annealing, the copolymer is still soluble up to 90% with very little change in inherent viscosity taking place.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Properties of Injection Molded Fully Aromatic                                  Amide-Imide Polymer (OBA:MPDA 70:30)                                                       ASTM                                                                           Method                                                             ______________________________________                                         Mold Temperature, °F.                                                                          440      410    440                                     Annealed               No       Yes    Yes                                     Tensile Strength, psi                                                                        D-638    16,800   26,100 25,600                                  Tensile Modulus, psi                                                                         D-638    585,000  524,000                                                                               519,000                                 Percent Elongation                                                                           D-638    3.8      9.5    9.6                                     Flexural Strength, psi                                                                       D-790    23,100   35,600 32,600                                  Flexural Modulus, psi                                                                        D-790    682,000  711,000                                                                               644,000                                 Tensile Impact, ft-lb/in.sup.2                                                               D-1822   12.0     87.7   64.6                                    H.D.T. @ 264 psi, °F.                                                                 D-648    480° F.                                                                          --     --                                      ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 5

Copolymers were prepared as in Example 4, but polymers with different inherent viscosities were injected to mold an 81/2" long Type I tensile bar. The molding was done on a 10 ounce Stokes molding machine. These copolymers were easy to anneal and the properties before and after annealing are listed in Table III.

                  TABLE III                                                        ______________________________________                                         Mechanical Properties of the Injection Molded                                  TMA:OBA:MPDA 10:7:3 Polymer                                                    from Type I Tensile Specimens                                                                                ASTM                                                        As Molded                                                                              Annealed.sup.a                                                                            Method                                           ______________________________________                                         Tensile Strength, psi                                                                       9,900     23,700     D-638                                        Tensile Modulus, psi                                                                        698,000   661,000    D-638                                        Percent Elongation                                                                          2.1       9.7        D-638                                        Flexural Modulus, psi                                                                       770,000   680,000    D-790                                        Izod, ft-lb/in notch                                                                        0.53      1.7        D-256                                        Shrinkage              2.5%                                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.a 16 hr @ 480° F., 24 hr @ 490, 72 @ 500.                    

EXAMPLE 6 Melt preparation of TMA:OBA:MPDA 10:6:4 copolymer

Oxybisaniline (480 g), metaphenylenediamine (172.8 g) and acetic acid (945 g) was charged into a five-liter three-necked flask equipped with a metal-blade, metal shaft stirrer, pressure equalizing addition funnel with nitrogen inlet, and a distillation takeoff. After flushing the flask with nitrogen and keeping a slow bleed, acetic anhydride (408 g) was added over two minutes. This was followed by the addition of 768 g of trimellitic anhydride over one minute. The temperature of the bottom half of the spherical heating mantle surrounding the flask was set at 725° F. and the Variac connected to the top half was set at 50. After 86 minutes approximately 1400 ml of distillate was collected, the polymer was briefly held under low vacuum (20 in Hg) and then cooled under nitrogen. Its inherent viscosity (0.5% w/v in NMP @ 25° C.) was 0.24. The polymer was cured under high vacuum (0.8 mm Hg) for 16 hr @ 535° F. increasing its inherent viscosity to 0.75. The physical properties are set forth in Table IV.

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                         Mechanical Properties of the Injection Molded                                  TMA:OBA:MPDA 10:6:4 Polymer                                                                                  ASTM                                                        As Molded                                                                              Annealed.sup.a                                                                            Method                                           ______________________________________                                         Tensile Strength, psi                                                                       12,400    26,500     D-638                                        Percent Elongation                                                                          3.7       12.1       D-638                                        Flexural Strength, psi                                                                      28,100    32,500     D-790                                        Flexural Modulus, psi                                                                       674,000   652,000    D-790                                        Izod, ft-lb/in notch                                                                        1.5       3.5        D-256                                        H.D.T. @ 264 psi                                                                            513       532        D-648                                        Shrinkage,.sup.b %     0.7%                                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.a 16 hr @ 495, 24 hr @ 505, 24 hr @ 519.                                  .sup.b In length of D1708 tensile bar during annealing.                  

Samples of this copolymer were annealed under different conditions to determine the effect of annealing upon physical properties and dimensional stability of the test specimens. Results of the mechanical property tests are listed in Table V. Annealing cycles are also set forth in Table V.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         Effect of Annealing Cycle on                                                   Properties of the Injection Molded                                             TMA:OBA:MPDA 10:6:4 Polymer                                                               ASTM  As                                                                       Meth- Mold-                                                                    od    ed                                                            ______________________________________                                         Annealing Cycle              I     II                                          Tensile Strength, psi                                                                       D-638   12,400  26,500                                                                               26,400                                                                               25,100                                Percent Elongation                                                                          D-638   3.7     12.1  15    12.0                                  Flexural Strength, psi                                                                      D-790   28,100  32,500                                                                               31,900                                                                               --                                    Flexural Modulus, psi                                                                       D-790   674,000 652,000                                                                              619,000                                                                              --                                    Izod, ft-lb/in notch                                                                        D-256   1.5     3.5   4.2   --                                    H.D.T. @ 264 psi                                                                            D-648   513     532   530   --                                    Shrinkage,.sup.a percent                                                                            --      0.7   0.6   0.9                                   ______________________________________                                          I 16 hr @ 495° F., 24 @ 505, 24 @ 519.                                  II 30 hr @ 495, 15 @ 508, 20 @ 515, 24 @ 520.                                  III 24 hr @ 509, 24 @ 520.                                                     .sup.a Of the D1708 Tbar.                                                

EXAMPLE 7

A copolymer was prepared similar to the procedure set forth in Example 6, but having the molar ratio of TMA:OBA:MPDA of 10:4:6.

Samples of this copolymer were injection molded and then annealed under different conditions to determine the effect of annealing upon physical properties and dimensional stability of the test specimens. Results of the mechanical property tests are listed in Table VI. Annealing cycles are also set forth in Table VI.

                  TABLE VI                                                         ______________________________________                                         Effect of Annealing Cycle on the Properties of                                 the Injection Molded 10:4:6 TMA:OBA:MPDA polymer                                          ASTM  As                                                                       Meth- Mold-                                                                    od    ed                                                            ______________________________________                                         Annealing Cycle              I     II                                          Tensile Strength, psi                                                                       D-638   19,400  25,700                                                                               25,700                                                                               24,100                                Percent Elongation                                                                          D-638   6.9     15    15    9.8                                   Flexural Strength, psi                                                                      D-790   32,500  32,100                                                                               32,800                                                                               --                                    Flexural Modulus, psi                                                                       D-790   653,000 600,000                                                                              676,000                                                                              --                                    Izod, ft-lb/in notch                                                                        D-256   2.1     2.1   3.1   --                                    H.D.T. @ 264 psi                                                                            D-648   519     547   550   --                                    Shrinkage,.sup.a percent     0.4   0.47  0.7                                   ______________________________________                                          I 30 hr @ 495° F., 15 @ 508, 24 @ 520.                                  II 24 hr @ 509, 24 @ 520.                                                      III 24 hr @ 520.                                                               .sup.a Of the D1708 Tbar.                                                

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of TMA:OBA:MPDA 10:6:4 Copolymer Prepared From 90% Acylated Diamines

A copolymer was prepared similar to the procedure set forth in Example 6 except that 1.8 moles of acetic anhydride per mole of diamine were used such that the diamines would be 90% acylated.

The copolymer had an inherent viscosity of 0.7. The sample was injection molded and annealed. Its mechanical properties are listed in Table VII.

                  TABLE VII                                                        ______________________________________                                         Mechanical Properties of 10:6:4 Trimellitic                                    Anhydride:Oxybisaniline:Metaphenylenediamine                                   Polymer Prepared from 90% Acylated Diamines                                               ASTM Method                                                                              Unannealed                                                                               Annealed.sup.a                                  ______________________________________                                         Tensile Strength, psi                                                                       D-638       13,100    25,100                                      Percent Elongation                                                                          D-638       3.5       11.5                                        Flexural Strength, psi                                                                      D-790       23,900    31,600                                      Flexural Modulus, psi                                                                       D-790       710,000   673,000                                     Izod, ft-lb/in notch                                                                        D-256       1.4       3.7                                         Heat Distortion Tem-                                                                        D-648       467° F.                                                                           519° F.                              perature @ 264 psi                                                             ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Annealing cycle: 16 hr @ 490° F., 24 hr @ 504° F., 2      hr @ 510° F., 24 hr @ 520° F.                              

EXAMPLE 9

This example illustrates the continuous melt preparation of 10:6:4 TMA:OBA:MPDA copolymer using 90% acylated diamines.

A twenty-five gallon stirred kettle was charged with 18,000 g (90 mole) of oxybisaniline, 6480 g (60 mole) of metaphenylenediamine, and 12 l. (12,600 g) of acetic acid. To this stirred mixture under nitrogen was added 27,560 g (270 mole) of acetic anhydride over a period of 12 minutes while the skin of the jacketed kettle was water cooled. During the addition, the temperature of the kettle contents increased from 91° F. to 250° F. Trimellitic anhydride, 28,800 g (150 mole) was added to the kettle over a period of 5 minutes during which time the temperature of the contents dropped to 190° F. This mixture was heated to 240° F. by passing steam through the kettle's jacket. This mixture was continuously metered at a rate of 13,200 g/hr into an electrically heated (skin temperature 640° F.) helical anchor stirred reactor. The feed stream into this reactor was maintained at approximately 150 psi and the stream was heated to a temperature of 420°-440° F. The reactor content was maintained at 2,500-3,000 g and a melt temperature of 575°-600° F. Distillate was collected at a rate of 6,300-6,400 g/hr and product was pumped out of the reactor by a gear pump at a rate of 6,750-6,850 g/hr into a water bath. The product polymer had an inherent viscosity of 0.29 in N-methylpyrrolidone @ 25° C. and 0.5% w/v concentration.

This polymer was passed through an 8.2 ft. long Egan twin screw reactor having 3.5 in. diameter screws, operating at 26 RPM and a throughput of 66-70 lb/hr. The four zone temperatures were set at 550°, 630°, 670°, and 640° F. and melt temperature indicators in these zones showed temperatures in the range of 600°-626°, 672°-689°, 679°-696°, and 695°-724° F. The extruder barrel was vented and vacuum was applied. The inherent viscosity of the polymer increased to 0.66 to 0.80 during this operation.

EXAMPLE 10

m-Toluenediamine (MTDA 80/20 mixture of the 2,4 and 2,6 isomers) (407 g, 3.33 moles) and acetic acid (680 g) were placed in a 5 liter 3-necked round bottom flask equipped with mechanical stirrer, pressure equalizing addition funnel and nitrogen sparge tube, and distillation head and condenser. The nitrogen sparge was set at 375 cc/min. and acetic anhydride (680 g, 6.67 mole) was added over 8 min. This was followed by the addition of 277 g (1.67 mole) of isophthalic acid (IA) and 277 g (1.67 mole) of terephthalic acid (TA). The temperature of the heating mantle surrounding the bottom half of the flask was set at 550° F. After 105 min. approximately 1200 ml of distillate had been collected and the temperature of the mantle was set at 700° F. After 35 min. more an additional 140 ml of distillate was collected. The melt was then stirred for 20 min. under low vacuum (150 torr), cooled with liquid nitrogen, and ground. The inherent viscosity of the polymer 0.5% w/v in N-methylpyrrolidone at 25° C. was 0.15. Solid state polymerizations for 16 hours at 460° F., 16 hours at 465° F. and 16 hours at 490° F. under high vacuum (0.25 torr) increased the inherent viscosity to 0.31, 0.43 and 0.81 after each successive solid state polymerization. The polymer was injection molded and annealed. Its mechanical properties are listed in Table VIII.

                  TABLE VIII                                                       ______________________________________                                         Properties of the Fully Aromatic 1:1:2                                         TA:IA:MTDA Polyamide                                                                        As Molded                                                                              Annealed.sup.a                                                                           Annealed.sup.b                                  ______________________________________                                         Tensile Strength, psi                                                                         14,000    16,000    17,200                                      Elongation at Break, %                                                                        4.1       4.5       5.0                                         Flexural Strength, psi                                                                        28,900    32,200    --                                          Flexural Modulus, psi                                                                         643,000   646,000   --                                          Izod ft-lb/in notch                                                                           0.13      0.14      --                                          Tensile Impact ft-lb/in.sup.2                                                                 31.9      34.2      41.6                                        H.D.T. @ 264 psi, °F.                                                                  445       510       --                                          ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Annealing Cycle 24 hr. @ 490° F., 24 hr. @ 500° F.        .sup.b Annealing Cycle 24 hr. @ 490° F., 96 hr. @ 500° F.  

EXAMPLE 11

Polymer prepared according to Example 10, which had an inherent viscosity of 0.52, was blended with 30% by weight of fiber glass. The mixture was injection molded and displayed excellent mechanical properties. 

We claim:
 1. A process for the preparation of random linear injection moldable amide-imide and amide copolymers having an inherent viscosity of about 0.6 to 3.0 which process comprises reacting fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines with aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides, aromatic dicarboxylic acids or mixtures of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides in a molar ratio of about 9:1 to about 1:9 at a temperature of about 150° to 750° F., and wherein the molar ratio of the diamines to the anhydride or acid, and anhydride mixture is about 0.9:1 to 1.1:1 and at least 50% of the amine functionality is acylated in the presence of C₂ through C₈ containing aliphatic acids or C₄ to C₁₆ containing aliphatic anhydrides.
 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the acid is isophthalic acid.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the tricarboxylic acid anhydride compound is trimellitic anhydride.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein about 70 to 100 percent of the aromatic diamine is acylated.
 5. The process of claim 4 wherein aromatic diamines contain one benzene ring or two benzene rings joined directly or by stable linkages consisting of --S--, --O--, ##STR4## --C-- or methylene radicals.
 6. The process of claim 4 wherein the acylated diamines are prepared from oxybisaniline and metaphenylene diamine.
 7. The process of claim 6 wherein the molar ratio of the oxybisaniline to the metaphenylene diamine is in the range of about 8:2 to about 2:8.
 8. An injection moldable random linear polyamideimide copolymer prepared according to the process of claim 1 and comprising units of: ##STR5## wherein "Z" is a trivalent benzene ring or lower alkyl substituted trivalent benzene ring; R comprises R₁ and R₂, R₁ and R₂ are divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or two divalent hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms joined directly or by stable linkages selected from the group consisting of --O--, methylene, --CO--, --SO₂ --, and --S-- radicals and wherein said R₁ and R₂ containing units run from about 10 mole percent R₁ containing unit and about 90 mole percent R₂ containing unit to about 90 mole percent R₁ containing unit and about 10 mole percent R₂ containing unit.
 9. The copolymer of claim 8 wherein R₁ is ##STR6##
 10. The copolymer of claim 8 wherein Z is a trivalent benzene ring, R₁ is ##STR7## and wherein the concentration range runs from about 20 mole percent of the R₁ containing units and about 80 mole percent of the R₂ containing units to about 80 mole percent of the R₁ containing units and about 20 mole percent of the R₂ containing units.
 11. The copolymer of claim 10 wherein the concentration range runs from about 40 mole percent of the R₁ containing units and about 60 mole percent of the R₂ containing units to about 60 mole percent of the R₁ containing units and about 40 mole percent of the R₂ containing units.
 12. An injection moldable random linear polyamideimide copolymer prepared according to the process of claim 1 comprising units of ##STR8## wherein "Z" is a trivalent benzene ring; R comprises R₁ or a mixture of R₁ and R₂, R₁ and R₂ are divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or two divalent hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms joined directly or by stable linkages selected from the group consisting of --O--, methylene, --CO--, --SO₂ -- and --S-- radicals, and said R₁ and R₂ containing units run from about 10 mole percent R₁ containing units and 90 mole percent R₂ containing units to about 90 mole percent R₁ containing units to about 10 mole percent R₂ containing units and X is a divalent aromatic radical.
 13. The copolymer of claim 12 wherein X is ##STR9##
 14. A continuous process for the preparation of random linear injection moldable amide-imide and amide copolymers having an inherent viscosity of about 0.6 to 3.0 which continuous process comprises reacting fully or partially acylated aromatic diamines with aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, or mixtures of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydrides in a molar ratio of about 9:1 to 1:9 at a temperature of about 150° to 750° F. and wherein the molar ratio of the diamines to the anhydride or acid, or acid and anhydride mixture is 0.9:1 to 1.1:1 and at least 50% of the total amine functionality is acylated in the presence of C₂ through C₈ containing aliphatic acids or C₄ to C₁₆ containing aliphatic anhydrides.
 15. The process of claim 14 wherein the aromatic dicarboxylic acid is isophthalic acid.
 16. The process of claim 14 wherein the tricarboxylic acid anhydride compound is trimellitic anhydride.
 17. The process of claim 14 wherein about 70 to 100 percent of the aromatic diamine is acylated.
 18. The process of claim 14 wherein the acylated diamines are prepared from oxybisaniline and metaphenylene diamine.
 19. The process of claim 18 wherein the molar ratio of the oxybisaniline to the metaphenylene diamine is in the range of about 8:2 to about 2:8.
 20. An injection moldable random linear polyamide copolymer prepared according to the process of claim 1 and comprising units of ##STR10## wherein R comprises R₁ or a mixture of R₁ and R₂, R₁ and R₂ are divalent aromatic hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or two divalent hydrocarbon radicals of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms joined directly or by stable linkages selected from the group consisting of --O--, methylene, --CO--, --SO₂ -- and --S-- radicals, and said R₁ and R₂ containing units run from about 10 mole percent R₁ containing units and 90 mole percent R₂ containing units to about 10 mole percent R₂ containing units and X is a divalent aromatic radical.
 21. The polyamide copolymer of claim 20 wherein R comprises ##STR11##
 22. The polyamide copolymer of claim 21 wherein X is a mixture of terephthalic and isophthalic acids.
 23. The polyamide copolymer of claim 22 wherein the molar ratio of terephthalic and isophthalic acids is in the range of 6:4 to about 4:6.
 24. The copolymer produced according to claim 1 wherein the copolymer is in the form of a molded object.
 25. The copolymer produced according to claim 11 wherein the copolymer is in the form of a molded object.
 26. The copolymer produced according to claim 12 wherein the copolymer is in the form of a molded object.
 27. The copolymer produced according to claim 14 wherein the copolymer is in the form of a molded object.
 28. The copolymer produced according to claim 19 wherein the copolymer is in the form of a molded object.
 29. The copolymer produced according to claim 20 wherein the copolymer is in the form of a molded object.
 30. The copolymer produced according to claim 23 wherein the copolymer is in the form of a molded object.
 31. The composition of claim 30 wherein the molded object contains from about 20 to 60 weight percent of glass fibers, glass beads, mineral fillers or a mixture thereof.
 32. The process of claim 1, wherein the aliphatic anhydride is acetic anhydride.
 33. The process of claim 14, wherein the aliphatic anhydride is acetic anhydride. 